Device for actuating a movable member



March 12, 1963 P. T. EISELE 3,080,765

. DEVICE FOR ACTUATING A MOVABLE MEMBER Filed March 4, 1960 INVEN TOR. AUL Z'E/sELE M gag/ ATwRNE Y5 Unite 1 Paul T. Eisele, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The Warner 8: Sfwasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 12,812 Claims. (Cl. 74--57) tool-supporting cross slide in a machine tool and is adapted to be moved in either of two opposing directions when the cam and cam fol-lower means are drivingly connected and the cam means is rotated. 'Ihe cam follower means is hydraulically actuated between two positions wherein the follower means is respectively disconnected from the cam means and operatively connected thereto.

In the preferred embodiment the follower meansis car- 'ried by the movable member for movement therewith relative to rotatable cam means fixed against axial movement. The follower means comprises a piston having a roller attached thereto mounted for movement in directions perpendicularto the axis of rotation of the cam means in a pressure cavity formed in the movable member. The cam means constitutes a cam drum formed with a camming track or groove of unique configuration which cooperates with the roller when the follower means is in one of its positions to effect movement of the follower means and the movable member in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum when the drum is rotated.

The camming track or groove includes axially spaced arcuate or annular portions having shallow depths connected through a helical portion having a deeper depth. When the follower means is in the position wherein it is disconnected from the drum the roller extends into one of the shallow grooves. When the follower means is actuated by the application of pressuer fluid thereto to the position wherein it is operatively connected to the drum the roller extends into the deeper helical groove and is moved axially of the drum in response to rotation of the drum.

A unique arrangement is provided for effecting automatic movement of the follower means from the position wherein it is connected to the drum to the position wherein it is disconnected from the drum in response to predetermined movement of the follower means in a direction axially of the drum. fected by the unique configuration of the camming groove formed in the drum.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improved means for actuating a movable member including hydraulically actuated cam follower meanscooperating with rotatable cam means.

It is another object of the invention to provide means as defined in the preceding object wherein the follower means is mounted for movement in directions perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam means between two positions for respectively preventing and permitting actuation of the movable member.

it is a further object of the invention to provide means for actuating a movable member including hydraulically actuated cam follower means carried by the movable Such automatic movement is efpresent invention.

Patented liiar. f2, 1963 member for cooperation with a rotatable cam drum which.

is fixed against axial movement. r I

It is still another object of the invention to provide means as defined in the preceding object forautomatically moving the cam follower means to a position wherein the follower means is disconnected from the cam drum in response to predetermined movement of the follower means in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum resulting from rotation of the drum.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which- PEG. 1 illustrates a system including means for actuating a movable member with parts shown diagrammatically; and

FIG. 2 iso View in section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the cam means.

The present invention is susceptible of various arrangements, modifications and constructions and may be employed to actuate movable members of different types. The invention is particularly suitable, however, for actuating a tool-supporting cross slide in a machine tool wherein it is desired to move the cross slide in two opposing directions relative toa workpiece.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a movable member 1 shown in the form of a tool-supporting cross slide adapted to be moved in opposing horizontal directions by the improved actuating means of the The member 1 is supported for movement by spaced parallel ways 2 (only one of which is shown) and carries a cutting tool 3 adapted to perform a cut on a workpiece a. .The slide 1 is movable in oppos ing directions toward and away from the workpiece 4.

In order to effect movement of the slide 1 the invention provides cam means 5 and cooperating cam follower means 6 of unique construction for establishing a driving connection to the slide 1. in the form of a cylindrical drum or barrel which is rotatably'rnounted by spaced bearings 7. The cam drum is fixed against movement in axial directions and includes a camming track or groove 8 adapted to cooperate with the follower to effect movement of the slide 1 when the cam drum is rotated.

Any suitable arrangement may be employed to effect rotation of the cam drum. As shown in FIG. 1, a gear 9 is carried by the drum for rotation therewith and is in meshing engagement with a gear it} which is driven from a driving device such as a reversible electrical motor ill. The motor 11 effects rotation of the drum at a speed such thatthe cross slide is moved at feed speeds relative tothe workpiece.

The direction of rotation 'of the motor 11 may be controlled by movements of a turret structure (not shown) conventionally employed in machine tools.

The follower means 6 in the present invention is bydraulically actuated and in the illustrated embodiment is carried by the cross slide for movement therewith. As will presently appear, the follower is mounted for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower is disconnected from the drum to,

prevent movement ofthe cross slide and a second position wherein the follower is operatively connected to the drum to effect movement of the cross slide in response to rotation of the drum.

The follower 6 includes a cylindrical piston 12 which The cam means 5 is illustrated I 3 17, a control valve 18, and a flexible conduit 19 to the cavity 13. i

The control valve 18 is a two-position valve and ma have a valve body actuated between two controlling positions manually by an operator, or automatically in response to movements of the turrent (not shown). If the valve 18 is controlled automatically the valve body may be actuated by a solenoid 18' which is energizable under the control of limit switches (not shown) carried by a control drum (not shown) associated with the turret. The valve 18 is illustrated in a condition wherein the cavity 13 is connected through the conduit 19 to a drain conduit 20 which leads to the reservoir 16. When the body of the valve 18 is actuated to its other controlling position fluid is supplied to the cavity 13 under pressure from the pump.

The cam drum includes a track or groove 8 of unique configuration for cooperating with the roller 14. The cam track comprises a pair of arcuate or annular shallow grooves 21 and 22 which are spaced axially of the cam drum and which extend about such axis through a predetermined arc. The grooves 21 and 22 are interconnected through an intermediate helical deeper cam groove 23 which intersects the grooves 21 and 22. groove 23 includes terminal portions 24 and 25 having the deeper cut and which join the grooves 21 and 22 along axially extending edges 26 and 27. The portions 24 and 25 gradually decrease in depath adjacent the edges 26 and 27.

A detent arrangement is provided for retaining the piston 12 in its two radial positions. For this purpose a spring biased plunger 28 is mounted within a cavity 29 formed in the cross slide 1 to extend horizontally into a selected one of a pair of axially spaced notches 30 and 31 formed in the periphery of the piston 12. In FIG. 1 the piston 12 is shown in its uppermost position wherein the roller 14 is located within the shallow groove 21. The piston is held in such position by means of the plunger 28 being biased into the lower notch 39. When the piston 12 is in its illustrated position rotation of the cam drum is ineffective to move the roller 14 along the helical groove 23 and as a result the cross slide 1 is not moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the cam drum. The cross slide is shown in its retracted position relative to the workpiece 4.

If it is desired to advance the cross slide toward th workpiece to perform a machining operation the body of valve 18 is actuated either manually or automatically to a position wherein the pump 15 supplies fluid under pressure through the conduits 17 and 19 to the cavity 13. When the fluid is so supplied the piston 12 will be moved downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 to urge the plunger 28 out of the notch 30 toward the left against the action of its biasing spring. Such downward movement of the piston continues until the notch 31 is adjacent the plunger 28, at which time the plunger will be urged into the notch 31 to stop the piston. The piston is then in its lower position wherein the roller 14 extends into the terminal portion 24 of the helical cam groove 23.

Actuation of the body of valve 18 is performed in timed relation to rotation of the cam drum so that the piston is moved downwardly when the terminal groove portion 24 is rotated into a position wherein it can receive the roller 14. When the piston 12 has been moved to its lower position, the body of the valve 18 is actuated to a position wherein the cavity 13 is connected to the drain conduit 20.

In order to advance the cross slide the cam drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the right-hand end of the cam drum in FIG. 1, or in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. When the piston is actuated to position the roller 14 within the terminal groove portion 24 the roller will be diverted into the helical cam groove 23 and will traverse such groove as the cam drum rotates. Inasmuch as the cam drum is The helical fixed against axial movement, rotation thereof will result in movement of the roller 14 and the piston 12 together with the cross slide horizontally toward the right as viewed in FIG. 1.

The above described-action continues until the roller 14 leaves the helical groove 23 and enters the terminal groove portion 25. When this occurs the roller will ride over the groove portion 25 until it reaches the edge 27. When this occurs the roller 14 and the piston 12 will have been moved radially of the cam drum to cause retraction of the plunger 28 out of the notch 31 and to its upper position, as viewed in FIG. 1. When the notch 30 is presented to the plunger 28 the plunger will be extended toward the right into the notch 30 to stop the piston in its upper position wherein the roller 14 extend into the shallow groove 22.

If it is desired to retract the cross slide, it is only necessary to actuate the body of valve 18 to again admit fluid under pressure to the cavity 13 for moving the piston 12 downwardly so that the roller 14 extends into the groove portion 25. It is understood that prior to such actuattion of the valve 18 the direction of rotation of the cam drum is, reversed from that employed to effect advancement of the cross slide. Accordingly, the cam drum is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the righthand end of the cam drum and when the terminal portion .25 is positioned to receive the roller 14the valve 18 is actuated to admit fluid under presure to the cavity 13. The piston 12 is then moved downwardly until stopped by the detent means so that the roller 14 extends into the groove portion 25. As the cam drum rotates theroller will be diverted into the helical cam groove 23 and the cross slide 1 will move toward the left as viewed in FIG. l, away from the workpiece. When the roller leaves the helical groove it will ride over the groove portion 24 until it reaches the edge 26, at which time the piston .will have been moved upwardly to a position wherein it is stopped by the detent means. When the piston is so stopped the roller 14 is positioned so that it extends into the shallow groove 21. H

The pump 15 may be employed to supply hydraulic fluid to other parts of the machine tool and is conventionally located within the headstock of the machine. As a consequence, the flexible conduit 19 is required inasmuch as the cross slide is movable with respect to the pump 15.

A detent arrangement is preferably provided for retaining the slide 1 in its retracted position. As shown in FIG. 1 a spring biased plunger 32 is mounted within a cavity of the slide 1 for engagement with a notch 33 formed in the way 2 when the slide 1 is in its retracted position. When the slide 1 is advanced the plunger 32 will be forced upwardly out of the notch 33. This detent arrangementprevents movement of the roller 14 into the groove 23 when the roller is located in the groove 21. A similar detent arrangement may be employed to retain the slide in its forward position, if desired.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible and it is desired to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described myinvention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a movable tool-supporting member, cooperating cam and cam follower means for moving said member, said member carrying one of said means for movement therewith relative to the other of said means, said cam means comprising a rotatable element having an annular groove with a maximum depth portion and proceeding in one direction progressively decreasing in depth to a shallow second portion of minimum depth and a cam groove joining with the annular groove at the maximum depth portion, means for rotating said element in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted for movespears?) ment relative to said member and relative to said element and adapted to be received by the annular, groove in the shallow portion wherein it is not operatively connected to said element and is adapted to extend into the annular groove to said maximum depth portion whereby it is diverted into the cam groove and is operatively con nected to said element when said element is rotating in one of said two opposing directions, and means for applying pressure fiuid to said follower means to move the follower means from the shallow depth portion to the maximum depth portion, said cam means including a carnming surface which connects said shallow depth portion and said maximum depth portion proceeding in said other direction of. rotation from said maximum depth portion to said shallow depth portion, said follower means being automatically moved from the maximum depth portion to the shallow depth portion when the follower means engages the camming surface. 7 p

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said follower means is carried by said member for movement therewith and said cam means is fixed against axial movement.

3. .Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including detent means for retaining the follower means in said first and second positions.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a movable driven member, cooperating cam and cam follower means for driving said member, said member carrying one of said means for movement therewith relative to the other of said means, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having a-rcuate terminal portions joining respe tively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fiuid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said member includes a pressure cavity, said follower meansi'neluding a piston slidable within said cavity, and a roller carried by said piston for rotation about an axis gen- 'erally perpendicular to the axis of said drum.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a spring biased detcnt slid-ably carried by said member, said cam follower means including a pair of spaced notches each for receiving said detent when said follower means is in a separate one of said positions.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a movable driven member, cooperating cam and cam follower means for driving said member, said cam means comprising a between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates,

said shallow grooves forming with the adjacent terminal portions of said helical groove a pair of camming surfaces effective to move said follower means from said second position to said first position when the follower means engages said surfaces in response to rotation of said cam means, and detent means for retaining said follower means in said first and second positions.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a movable driven member, coopenating cam and cam follower means for driving said member, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum fixed against axial movement, said drum having axially spaced arcua-te shallow grooves interconnested through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted by said member for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means'extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates, said shallow grooves forming with the adiacent terminal portions of said helical groove a pair of carnming surface effective to move said follower means from said second position to said first position when the follower means engages said surfaces in response to r0tation of said cam drum.

rotatable drum fixed against axial movement, said drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow groves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted by said member for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means etxends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates, said shallow grooves forming with the so,

of the drum, a spring biased detent slidablycarried by said a member, said piston including a pair of spaced notches each for receiving said detent when the piston is in aseparate one of said positions.

9 In a machine tool havinga movable tool-supporting slide, cooperating cam and cam follower means effective when operatively connected to move the slide, said slide carrying one of said means for movement therewith'relative to the other of said means, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said' drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates.

10. In a machine tool having a movable tool-supporting slide, cooperating cam and cam follower means effective when operatively connected to move the slide, said slide carrying one of said means for movement therewith relative to the other of said means, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves and extending substantially entirely about the circumference of the drum, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates said helical groove being configured to permit relative axial movement between the drum and follower means throughout the axial extent of the helical groove for either direction of rotation of the drum.

11. In a machine tool having a movable tool-supporting slide, cooperating cam and cam follower means effective when operatively connected to move the slide, said slide carrying one of said means for movement therewith relative to the other of said means, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, and means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates, said shallow grooves forming slide, cooperating cam and cam follower means for driving said slide, said cam means comprising a rotatable drum fixed against axial movement, said drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnected through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted by said slide for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the secondposition to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates, said shallow grooves forming with the adjacent terminal portions of said helical groove a pair of camming surfaces elfective to move said follower means from said second position to said first position when the follower means engages said surfaces in response to rotation of said cam drum, and detent means for retaining said follower means in said first and second positions.

13. In a machine tool having a movable tool-supporting slide, cooperating cam and cam follower means for driving said slide, said cam means comprising a rotatable it drum fixed against axial movement, said drum having axially spaced arcuate shallow grooves interconnect-ed through a helical deeper groove, said helical groove having arcuate terminal portions joining respectively with said shallow grooves and extending substantially entirely about the circumference of the drum, means for rotating said drum in either of two opposing directions, said cam follower means being mounted by said slide for sliding movement radially of the drum between a first position wherein the follower means extends into one of said shallow grooves and a second position wherein the follower means extends into an adjacent terminal portion of said helical groove, means for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from the first position to the second position to effect relative axial movement between the drum and follower means as the drum rotates, said shallow grooves forming with the adjacent terminal portions of said helical groove a pair of camming surfaces effective to move said follower means from said second position to said first position when the follower means engages said surfaces in response to rotation of said cam drum, and detent means including a spring biased detent movably mounted by said slide, said follower means including a pair of spaced notches each for receiving said detent when said follower means is in a separate one of said positions.

14. In apparatus of the character described, cam follower means, cylinder means including a pressure cavity for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from a first position to a second position, said follower means including a cam follower and a piston slidable within said cavity and connected to said follower and detent means carried by said cylinder means and engageable with said follower means when the latter is disposed in either one of said positions to releasably maintain the follower means in the position and adapted to be released by said cylinder means to permit movement of the follower means to said either one of said positions.

15. In apparatus of the character described, cam follower means, cylinder means including a pressure cavity for applying pressure fluid to said follower means to slide the follower means from :a first position to a second position, said follower means including a cam follower and a piston slidable within said cavity and connected to said follower, a spring biased detent slidably carried by said cylinder means, and-a pair of spaced notches in said piston for receiving said detent to maintain said follower means in said first or second position, said detent adapted to be urged out of one of said spaced notches by said cylinder means to permit movement of the follower means to either said first or second position.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,998 Nelson Dec. 6, 1932 2,416,632 Lynarn et al Feb. 25, 1947 2,424,153 Curtis et a1. July 15, 1947 2,499,679 Pianta Mar. 7, 1950 2,507,640 Macdonald May 16, 1950 2,519,117 Curtis Aug. 15, 1950 2,573,506 Stokes Oct. 30, 1951 2,654,257 Henshaw Oct. 6, 1953 2,908,186 Meyer Oct. 13, 1959 

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A MOVABLE TOOL-SUPPORTING MEMBER, COOPERATING CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER, SAID MEMBER CARRYING ONE OF SAID MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEANS, SAID CAM MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE ELEMENT HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE WITH A MAXIMUM DEPTH PORTION AND PROCEEDING IN ONE DIRECTION PROGRESSIVELY DECREASING IN DEPTH TO A SHALLOW SECOND PORTION OF MINIMUM DEPTH AND A CAM GROOVE JOINING WITH THE ROTATING SAID ELEMENT IN EITHER OF TWO OPPOSING DIRECTIONS, SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBER AND RELATIVE TO SAID ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE SHALLOW PORTION WHEREIN IT IS NOT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ELEMENT AND IS ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO THE ANNULAR GROOVE TO SAID MAXIMUM DEPTH PORTION WHEREBY 